Archery bow



United States Patent Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne Attorney-Gausewitz and Carr ABSTRACT: An archery bow comprising limbs which are mounted at the upper and lower ends of parallel riser elements, the mounting being pivotal in order that the limbs may be folded inwardly for shipment and storage purposes. The risers are connected to each other by means of a shelf element adapted to provide support for an adjustable handle, and also for an adjustable arrow rest. Portions of the risers extend forwardly at regions below the handle, to thus afford clearance for the hand of the archer, and to form mounts for forwardly extending torque rods. The arrow is discharged through the window between the risers and above the shelf, such window being narrow in a direction longitudinal to the flight of the arrow whereby to minimize the possibility of deflection of the arrow by the bow. The bow is employed by either righthanded or left-handed archers, and is easily adapted to the needs of individual archers.

Patented Nov. 3, 1970 f 3,537,439

Sheet. Z of 2 FIG-J I ,2

. mvsmoa WILL/4M H. Josu/v Arne/vans Patented Nov. 3, 1970 Sheet FIG.5

W I N VENTOR.

ymunu II. J03 m ARCHERY sow BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION arrow can fly in a straight line toward the target but also because the bows may be employed by either right-handed-or left-handed archers. The ability to be used by right or lefthanded archers is not only important to the manufacturer and retail store, since inventories may be minimized, but it is also important to the resale value of the bow. In addition, such a bow may be advantageously employed by ambidextrous archers, for example in order to take advantage of the best shot from a hunting blind. Such center shot bows are previously known, one reference being U.S. Pat. No. 1,847,593.

Bows in which the limbs are pivotally mounted so that they may be retracted for shipment and storage purposes are also known to the art, for example as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 2,001,470. Bows having forwardly-protuberant central elements are likewise known, as shown by U.S. Pat. No. 2,900,973. In addition, bows having adjustable handles are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 3,055,353.

Despite the fact that the art has known of the above features for a number of years, no prior-art worker has previously manufactured a bow incorporating all of the above features, and others, and which is readily mass-manufactured at a low cost, yet is'readily adapted by individual archers to meet their own particular requirements. More importantly, no prior-art worker has previously devised such a bow which is extremely accurate, and which incorporates torque rods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present bow comprises first and second laterally spaced risers the ends of which are pivotally connected to limbs, the relationship being such that the limbs maybe pivoted in the plane of the bow for shipment and storage purposes. Extended frame-or center elements and 11, which will be termed effect better balance of the bow. At least one of the risers is adapted, at its region above the shelf, to support a sight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an archers bow constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the same in condition for shooting;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the bow after it has been unstrung and folded for shipment and storage purposes;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the central region of the bow, the sight being omitted; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary central sectional view, looking from station 4-4 indicated in FIG. 1', and illustrating the window portion of the bow, and showing an arrow in position for shooting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT bowstring combination, as viewed by the archer manipulating the bow.

risers. The bow further comprises upper and lower limbs 12 and 13, respectively, and means to pivotally connect the inner ends of such limbs to-the adjacent end portions of risers l0 and 11. A connector and support shelf 14 is connected between the risers 10 and 11 in order to adjustably support a handle or grip 16, and also to adjustably support an arrow rest 17. Torque rods 18 and 19 are connected to-the respective risers, and a sight 21 may be connected to at least one of the users.

Proceeding next to a detailed description of the risers l0 and 11, these may be identical to each other and therefore interchangeable. Each riser 10 and 11 comprises a straight, vertically-upwardly extending upper portion 22, a horizontal and forwardly extending center portion 23, an'da generally 8- shaped lower portion 24. Each lower portion 24 has a relatively straight and vertically extending upper section 24a the upper end of which connects to the forward end of center portion 23, and the lower end of which connects'to a downwardly and rearwardly inclined midsection 24b of such portion 24. At a region substantially directly below the connection between portions 22 and 23 of each riser, the lower end of midsection 24b connects to a vertically-downwardly extending lower section 240 of lower portion 24.

Riser portions 23 extend forwardly sufficiently far, and sections 24a of riser portions 24 extend downwardly sufficiently far, to provide a space in which there is adequate clearance for the hand (closed fist) of the archer gripping the grip l6. Portions 23 are long enough to create firm support for the shelf or mounting element 14.

The risers l0 and 11 are disposed in parallel planes which are spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit flight of the arrow between the risers, but (preferably) insufficient to provide clearance for the hand of the archer gripping the handle 16. Instead, such latter clearance is formed by the elements plate of aluminum or other desired metal. Because of their above-specified shape, many risers may be cut from the same plate.

The upper portions 22 of the risers are preferably relatively narrow in the forward-rearward direction in order to create minimum likelihood that the arrow will be deflected as it is propelled from the bow.

Each of the bow limbs 12 and 13 is a recurved flexible laminated wood-fiberglass and synthetic resin element the outer end of which is adapted in the usual manner for connection to the bowstring 26 (FIG. 1). The inner end 27 of each limb 12 and 13 becomes progressively thicker (in the forwardreverse direction), and is inserted between corresponding end portions of the risers 10-11. The width of the inner end 27 of each limb, in a lateral direction, is slightly less than the spacing between the two risers. The limbs are sufficiently narrow to fold between the risers, as shown in FIG. 2 relative to limb 12.

There will next be described the means for pivotally connecting the inner limb ends27 to the ends of risers 10 and 11, and for locking the limbs in shooting positions. Such means includes (for each limb Hand 13) a tubular bushing race 28 (FIG. 3) fixedly mounted in a bore which is formed through the wood core of inner end 27, such bore and bushing being perpendicular to the common plane of the bow and its string '26. An interiorly threaded tubular bushing 29 is rotatably inner ends of mounting screws 30. The screws 30 are extended inwardly through unthreaded bores 31 in the end portions 22 of the risers, and are threaded'into the opposite ends of the bushings 29. With the described construction, the limbs 12 and 13 are readily pivoted fromthe operating position of FIG. 1 to the storage position of FIG. 2, one of the limbs being pivoted forwardly and the other rearwardly. Prior to efiecting such pivoting, the mounting screws 30 are loosened.

To lock the limbs against pivotal motion, and thus prepare the bow for stringing and shooting, additional screws'32 are inserted through unthreaded bores 33 in the risers and into interiorly threaded end portions of bearing tubes 34. Such tubes 34 are secured in bores which are formed through limb ends 27 in outwardly spaced relationship from elements 28-29. The bearing tubes 34 are parallel to elements 28-29, that is to say, perpendicular to the plane of the bow-bowstring.

The described means for pivotally mounting and also locking the limbs is extremely practical, not only for storage and shipment but also to permit complete replacement of any limb when desired. It follows that broken limbs may be replaced, and limbs having different pulling weights may be substituted for those previously employed.

The connector or support shelf 14 (mounting element) is a horizontal metal plate the width of which (in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the bow-bowstring) is approximately equal to or slightly greater than the width of each limb end 27. Such plate is rigidly secured between the horizontal center portions 23 of the risers and serves to brace and space such risers. Securing is preferably effected by means of screws 36 which extend inwardly through unthreaded openings 37 in the portions 23 and into internally threaded bores 38 in the plate 14.

Shelf or plate 14 serves to adjustably support the grip or handle 16 therebeneath. This is preferably effected by means of a screw (or screws) 39 which extends downwardly through a slot 41 in plate 14 and into a vertical intemally-threaded bore 42 in the upper end of the grip. Slot 41 extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the bow, so that lateral adjustment of the grip 16 may be effected in accordance with the desires of the particular archer. Although only one screw, etc., is illustrated, parallel screws may be employed and extended through two parallel slots 41 in the plate inorder to insure against undesired rotation of the grip.

Not only may the grip 16 be adjusted as stated, but it may be completely removed and replaced by a custom grip if desired. Suitable means, not shown, may be provided to permit adjustment of the grip in the forward-to-rear direction in addition to the adjustment in a lateral direction.

The grip 16 is so located, and so rotated about its vertical axis through screw 39, that the archer feels no .sensation of torque (in his bow-gripping hand) even at full draw on string 26. it is emphasized that the proper grip adjustment is frequently different for different archers.

The rear edge of plate 14 is dovetailed at 43 (FIG. 3) in order to mount a correspondingly grooved rest block 44, the relationship being such that the block 44 may be adjusted along the dovetail in a lateral direction. A set screw 45 is adapted to lock the block 44 in any adjusted position. Mounted on the block 44 is a resilient wire element 46 having a bifurcated upper end adapted to support the shaft of an arrow 47 (FIG. 4). The wire element 46 may be raised and lowered as desired relative to the block 44, and then locked in position by tightening a set screw 48. Thus, block 44 and wire element 46 cooperate to form the adjustable arrow rest 17 for arrow 47.

it will thus be seen that the arrow 47 passes through a window defined at the lower end by shelf 14, at the sides by pertions 22 of risers l and 11, and at the upper end by the inner end 27- of upper limb 12. In passing through such window, there is very little chance of deflection of the arrow'by the bow. One reason for this is, as stated above, that the portions 22 of the risers are very narrow in the regions through which the arrow passes.

The torque bars 18 comprise elongated rods which extend forwardly from the risers, and have weight balls 50'(FlG. 1) at the forward ends thereof. The rear ends of the rods are internally threaded and are adapted to receive screws 51 which extend through lugs 52 on sections 24a of riser portions 24. The lugs 52 may be readily mounted on such sections 240, as by welding or by means of suitable screws.

The torque rods minimize the recoil or kick" movement of the bow during the period when the arrow is released, so that the bow does not jump or twist. Accordingly, the path of the arrow on its flight to the target will not be altered in any way.

The mounting of the torque rods 18 on the riser sections 24a is particularly advantageous in that the rods do not interfere with the grip of or sighting by the archer. The mounting of the torque rods near grip 16 is advantageous relative to the minimization of recoil, etc.

Although the use of twin parallel torque rods 18 is normally desired, it is also within the scope of the invention to employ a single torque rod on only one of the risers. In those cases where the particular archer desires to employ a sight instead of shooting bare how, a suitable sight 21 may be provided as indicated above. The illustrated sight 21 is only one of a large number which may be employed, and which causes a sighting point 53 to be located in front of the above-indicated window (FIG. 1) so that the archer may sight along a line from his eye through the point 53 to the target. The sight point 53 is both laterally and vertically adjustable.

I claim:

1. An archery bow, which comprises:

first and second elongated risers disposed in spaced and generally parallel relationship relative to each other;

a first flexible bow limb connected to one set of corresponding end portions of said risers;

a second flexible bow limb connected to the other set of corresponding end portions of said risers;

a mounting element connected to both of said risers and extending between intermediate portions thereof;

a grip connected to said mounting element; and

an arrow rest mounted above said grip and so located that an arrow supported thereon will pass between said risers when shot from said how.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which portions of said risers below said mounting element are offset forwardly sufficiently far to provide a space in which the closed fist of an archer may be disposed, and in which said grip is so located in said space that it may be gripped by the closed fist of an archer.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said mounting element is a shelf plate which is generally horizontal when the string of the bow is vertical, in which said grip is a handle extending downwardly from said shelf plate.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which means are provided to adjustably connect said handle to said shelf plate for adjustment of the position of said handle relative to said shelf plate.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which means are provided to adjustably connect said arrow rest to said shelf plate whereby the position of said arrow rest may be changed. 6. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which means are provided to pivotally connect said bow limbs to the respective corresponding end portions of said risers, and in which means are provided to releasably lock said limbs against pivotal movement relative to said risers, whereby said limbs may be folded inwardly when it is desired to ship or store the bow.

7. An archery bow, which comprises:

first and second elongated risers disposed in parallel relationship relative to each other;

said risers being spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit free passage of an arrow therebetween but insufficient to permit the closed fist of an archer to be disposed freely therebetween, the lower portions of said risers being offset forwardly sufficiently far to provide a space in which the closed fist of the archer may be disposed;

grip means mounted in said space and adapted to be gripped by one hand of the archer;

an arrow rest mounted above said grip means and so located that an arrow supported thereon will pass between said risers when shot from said bow;

a first bow limb connected to one set of corresponding end portions of said risers; and

a second bow limb connected to the other set of corresponding end portions of said risers.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 7, in which a mounting element is connected between said risers, and in which means are provided to mount said grip means on said mounting element in downwardly extending relationship relative thereto.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which means are provided to adjustably mount said arrow rest on said mounting element and thereabove.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 7, in which pivot means are provided to pivotally connect each of said bow limbs to one set of corresponding end portions of said risers, and in which releasable lock means are provided to lock said limbs against pivotal movement relative to said risers.

11. The invention as claimed in claim 7, in which each of said risers lies in a single plane, and in which the planes of said first and second risers are substantially parallel to each other.

12. The invention as claimed in claim 11, in which each of said risers has a generally vertically extending upper portion, a generally horizontal and forwardly extending center portion, and a lower portion the upper end of which is connected to the forward end of said center portion.

13. The invention as claimed in claim 12,- in which said lower portion of each riser is generally S-shaped, and in which the lower end of said S-shaped lower portion is substantially directly beneath the junction between said upper portion of said riser and the rear end ofsaid center portion thereof, said center portion and said S-shaped lower portion forming the forward offset which provides the space wherein the closed fist of the archer may be disposed.

14. The invention as claimed in claim 13, in which forwardly-extending torque rods are connected to the upper sections of said S-shaped lower portions of said risers.

15. The inventionas claimed in claim 12, in which a mounting shelf is connected between said generally horizontal center portions of said risers, in which means are provided to adjustably mount said grip means on said shelf in downwardly extending relationship relative thereto.

16. The invention as claimed in claim 15, in which means are provided to adjustably mount said arrow rest on said shelf and thereabove. r

17. The invention as claimed in claim 12, in which the connections between said bow limbs and the sets of corresponding end portions of said risers comprise pivot means so related that said limbs may pivot in the common plane of the bow and the bowstring therefor, and in which means are provided to lock said limbs against pivotal movement relative to said risers. 

